BUFFALO, N.Y. — The man known to many as the Bike Path Rapist died on Friday.
Altemio Sanchez died at 2:55 p.m. Friday at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital. The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision confirmed his death Friday evening.
A source told 2 On Your Side that Sanchez died by suicide on Friday. His body was discovered after 7 a.m. with an apparent self-inflicted injury to his arm.
Sanchez was transported from Wende Correctional Facility to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, where he died.
A spokesperson told 2 On Your Side that any death that appears other than natural causes or from a known medical condition is thoroughly investigated by New York State Police and DOCCS’ Office of Special Investigations. All deaths in DOCCS’ facilities are reviewed by the State Commission of Correction.
Sanchez was serving a sentence of 75 years to life in prison at Wende Correctional Facility in Alden. Sanchez had previously been serving his term at the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, N.Y.
2 On Your Side reached out to DOCCS to inquire why Sanchez had been transferred to Wende, and when. DOCCS officials have not provided an explanation.
"The official cause of death will be determined and released by the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office," DOCCS said in a statement.
"I would have hoped that he would spend that many years in prison, but at his age, I knew he wouldn't," retired Erie County Sheriff's Office detective Alan Rozansky said.
Rozansky and 11 other members of various law enforcement agencies were members of the so-called "Bike Path Task Force" established after the death of Joan Diver on Sept. 29, 2006.
Diver's body was discovered along a bike path in Newstead on Oct. 1, 2006.
According to Rozansky, by mid-November, the task force had narrowed their investigation to Sanchez as the primary suspect.
Sanchez's DNA was discovered on Diver's SUV.
In early January of 2007, the task force was able to further confirm Sanchez's DNA after following him to a local restaurant.
"We were able to obtain dishes and a napkin, which had his DNA on it and there was a match to the car and then we knew he was driving the car," Rozansky said. "Ultimately we arrested him on the murder."
Sanchez was also linked to the 1990 murder of University at Buffalo student Linda Yalem, and the 1992 murder of Majane Mazur.
Yalem's body was found near a bike path in Amherst, and Mazur's body was found near the Amtrack tracks in Buffalo.
Sanchez confessed to the three murders and pleaded guilty rape and murder charges in May of 2007.
The arrest and conviction of Sanchez led to the exoneration and release of Anthony Capozzi. Capozzi had been charged and convicted in rape case in 1982. Capozzi had always maintained his innocence and spent 22 years in prison.
New York State settled a lawsuit with Capozzi for $4.25 million after his release.
Sanchez was suspected and linked to several other rape cases throughout Western New York dating back to 1981. He was never charged in additional cases prior to his death.
"He was a menace to this area," Rozansky said. "We were glad we were able to take in this investigation to see that he ultimately was going to jail."